What do these wet eyes want to tell us?

In his essay "What do these wet eyes want to tell us?", Björn Linnell delves into Thomas Laqueur's new book, "The Dog's Gaze," which traces the dog's presence through art history. Linnell reflects on the profound connection between humans and dogs, pondering the enduring question of why the canine companion so frequently brings tears to our eyes.

The essay draws parallels from ancient literature, referencing Homer's Odyssey, where the loyal dog Argos recognizes his master Odysseus after twenty years of absence. Despite his old age and weakness, Argos wags his tail but is too frail to greet Odysseus, dying shortly after. This poignant scene moved Odysseus to tears, highlighting the deep emotional bond that existed even in antiquity.

Plato, centuries later, also recognized the dog's significance, particularly its protective qualities, courage, and fighting spirit, holding it up as a model for the state's guardians in his dialogue "The Republic." The essay notes that by the time Homer and Plato were writing, humans and dogs had already been companions for millennia.

Scientific evidence suggests that humans began domesticating wolves at least 15,000 years ago, and possibly as far back as 40,000 years ago. This extensive co-evolutionary relationship has led to dogs becoming an integral part of the human family, scientifically classified as Canis familiaris, sometimes with the addition of lupus.